by Anna Katmore
“Because I was too ashamed for them to know the truth. That she abandoned me for the sake of her violent lover who whacked the shit out of me anew every night. She gave me away. She chose her sick boyfriend over her own child.” My throat constricted as the words wrenched out. “I couldn’t bear people’s disdainful glances any longer. Their whispered taunts behind cupped hands about what a miserable daughter I must have been that my own mother refused to keep me.” With the back of my hand, I wiped my nose and twisted away from Quinn’s hold. A moth circled around the beam of light from the streetlamp. I watched it land on the bulb then flutter away. “So I invented her honorable death.”
Strong arms closed around my shoulders and turned me back. Quinn pressed me to his chest. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t.” The cotton of his t-shirt muffled my words. “Your disgust would have been the least bearable of all.”
SHIPPED OFF TO THE CONTINENT
THE LAST NIGHT in the orphanage seemed like the longest in my life. After Quinn had returned to the pub to give our excuses to my mother and her weird attendant, he drove me back to the place I still called home. Not until he promised to come see me off at the airport the next morning did I let go of my only friend’s arm.
Fear of the coming weeks clamped like a fist in my stomach and kept me from falling asleep till the early morning hours.
I had seen all kinds of emotional farewells on the small TV in the common room, but none of those applied to my leave-taking that day. Apart from Quinn, Debby would have been the only person worth a goodbye—if she hadn’t sold me to the devil the other day and brought about my unholy punishment.
At seven forty-five, I returned to my room after my last shower in the common bathing area. Pulling back my wet hair, I fixed it with an old rubber band I’d found in the pocket of my jeans when they had been handed down to me. As I slipped through the door, I yelped, and my heart shot to my throat at the sight of Julian sitting on my bed.
Elbows braced on his knees, he leaned forward. His blond hair gleamed like minted gold in the sun streaming in through the window. “Not quite the welcome I had hoped for.”
Frantically, I scanned the room for the other intruder, but the dragon was nowhere to be found. “What are you doing here?”
“Summoning you. Your mother is settling your check-out with the headmistress.” The bedsprings squeaked when he rose from my cot, then he glanced around the room.
Crap, not what I wanted him to do, especially when he focused on the cobwebs in the corner above his head.
“Isn’t this a lovely place?” he murmured.
I let a casual shrug roll off my shoulders to cover how much his words offended me. “Cobwebs, dust, it’s still home.”
“After the dramatic end of last evening, I wasn’t sure if you’d still be here today.”
“What a terrible shock for you to find my room empty then. Especially after all the trust you put in me at the courthouse.” I picked up the book I had been reading last night from my nightstand and withdrew my only pen, which had served as a bookmark last night. I dropped the pen into my backpack. “I’m sure you and the dragon wouldn’t have hesitated a minute to search the city for me.”
Quite nonchalantly, Julian stepped into my space. Biting the inside of my lip, I remained where I stood when he lowered his lips to my ear. “With that tongue of yours, we wouldn’t have had any trouble finding you.” His warm breath brushed my hair as he spoke.
I sighed, inhaling his scent. His skin smelled of wild wind and ocean, and that melted my armor. A memory surfaced in my mind of the one day last spring when Miss Mulligan had taken us to the sea and I had waded through the gentle waves rolling to the shore. Closing my eyes, I could still feel the wet sand between my toes.
“Are you ready to go?” Julian’s question came from behind me.
I opened my eyes, blinking against the bright light from outside. It seemed even the sun chided me for the moment where I’d let down my guard. I straightened and turned. “As ready as one in this sick situation can be.”
“Good.” His impudent grin mocked me from three feet away. “Let’s not waste any more time in this nasty place then.”
He bent, picked up my bursting backpack from the floor, and headed out. It was nice that he carried my heavy bag. Although, compared to my mother’s inescapable presence, it was only a small burden.
My gaze swept over my small room a final time. It felt as if I was leaving a part of me behind. After all, this had been my home for so long. Listlessly, I closed the door.
“The lift seems to be out of order today. We have to take the stairs,” Julian informed me when I caught up with his long strides.
“That lift has been out of order ever since I moved in.”
He looked at me, his gaze filled with sudden irritation.
“What did you expect to find here?” I sneered. “The Grand Plaza?”
Julian shook his head and walked a little faster. Even though I didn’t see his face, I could just picture him rolling his eyes.
Three flights of stairs gave me plenty of opportunity to study his backside. The muscles flexed with every step he took. Never being one to stare at a boy’s butt, it surprised me how hard I found it to tear my eyes away from the stunning view.
Between the first and second landing, he shot me a suspicious glance over his shoulder. Throughout the years, I’d become an expert at muffling the sound of my footfalls while wandering through the building at night to find a book in the library.
“Thought I was going to run?
“Just checking,” he murmured, facing the steps again.
Downstairs, my backpack landed with a dull thud on the floor. Julian planted his nice bottom on the second step, his elbows propped on his knees. A spider made its busy way past his shoes and disappeared into a crack in the brittle wall.
Julian angled his head to gaze at me. “Don’t tell me you’re going to miss this place.”
I shrugged and folded my arms over my chest. “You should come here in the winter when the mice move in for a warmer place to stay and a nice meal in the cafeteria.”
His brows arched and seemed to plead with me to confess I was only joking. I didn’t bother, but shifted my weight to my other foot, mimicked his raised brow, and dared him to call me a liar. He didn’t take the bait.
“Well, in your new home you will have to do without your speedy companions. The only furry thing there will be the giant hound.”
A dog? A giant dog? “No one said I’d have to share a house with a monster other than my mother.” The image of Rusty the Rottweiler ran screaming through my head. When I still lived with the dragon, that stupid dog had flashed his fangs at me whenever I walked by our neighbor’s garden. A hint of wariness crept into my voice. “And just how big would that dog be?”
Julian waited a second before he answered. “I know people who mistook it for a horse.” His quiet tone released a shudder down my spine. “But don’t worry. They keep the dog well fed, so it should restrain from eating a snotty brat like you.”
The door behind me squeaked open, and I nearly jumped out of my skin, half expecting to find myself staring into the open maw of a giant ogre. The beaming face of my mother was just as shocking.
“Oh, you’re already here.” She reached out with one hand, but apparently thought better of it and pulled back before her fingers made contact with my cheek. “I’ve got all the papers for your departure. The taxi is waiting outside. I suppose we can start our journey.”
Miss Mulligan shook my hand, mumbled some crap I didn’t listen to, and then saw us off to the front door. Julian stuffed my belongings into the boot of the black car next to two other suitcases. He climbed into the backseat after me while the dragon sat in front.
“Now put on a nice smile and enjoy the trip,” Julian whispered as he leaned over to my side. “You’ll like the flight. I guess you’ve never been in an airplane before?”
“Airplane?” Oh
shit! I hadn’t even thought about that part of the voyage! My knees started to tremble. “Isn’t there a way to go by car or train? Or even a ship?”
His forehead creased into a frown. “What’s the problem? Are you afraid of flying?”
“I wouldn’t say that exactly.” Because I’d never been up so high. Actually, just climbing the first few rungs of a ladder scared the wits out of me. Not to mention the horror when I had dared to lean out the window in my room. That dare had won me a brand new pullover Debby nicked from H&M, but the prize was hard-earned. “I just have a little issue with heights.”
Julian pursed his lips. “We best not give you a window seat.”
Within forty minutes we arrived at Heathrow Airport. I followed on Charlene’s heels, frightened I might get lost among so many people. But then again, what was I worrying for? This would be my last chance of escape. Maybe drop back, then take a wrong turn, and dash for freedom? My strides getting slower, the distance between me and my mishap of a mother grew steadily.
People wheeling their suitcases filled the space between us. Anticipation grew inside me. I stopped and peeked around, searching for a good place to hide until the dragon was out of sight.
From behind, someone slipped fingers under the straps of my backpack and pulled it down. “Let me carry this for you. We don’t want you to miss your flight for the sake of the heavy baggage.”
“Quinn!” I spun around and flung my arms around his firm body. My nose buried into the fresh smell of his dark uniform.
He laughed, staggering back a couple steps at my enthusiastic embrace. “All right, kiddo. I get it. You’re happy to see me.”
“I thought you wouldn’t come after all.”
He grabbed my shoulders and held me away from him to look me sternly in my eyes. “When did I ever break a promise to you?”
The chance at escape might be gone, but his showing up filled me with happiness. I smiled, knowing he’d never go back on his word.
Julian approached us. “Morning.”
“Hey, Jules.” Quinn planted a heavy hand on Julian’s shoulder. “I hope you had no trouble bringing the princess to her carriage.”
One corner of Julian’s mouth lifted. “So far she’s heeled like a nice puppy.”
I glared at both of them. “Would the two of you stop making fun of me?”
Julian took a small step backward, hands lifted in defense. “Your mother is at the check-in desk. Do you want to take your backpack with you into the cabin? Otherwise I’ll take it to her now.”
“No, just take it.” I picked up my bag and shoved it at his chest.
He didn’t budge at my hard push. One strap over his shoulder, he trudged toward my mother, who stood in a snake-like queue at the luggage drop-off. With him gone, I had a moment to say farewell to my friend.
Quinn pulled me aside. “Listen, kiddo. I’m sure your aunt and uncle will provide you with anything necessary. Food, clothes, a room. So no stealing in the foreign country, is that clear? Especially not from their house.” He pointed a warning finger in my face, and I restrained the impulse to snap my teeth at it.
“I’ll be nice.”
“Jona, I mean it.”
“Okay. Got it. No stealing.” I blew a strand of hair out of my eyes. “What about gambling and selling my body for money?”
His eyes grew wide, and his jaw dropped to his chest.
I fought back a laugh. “Close your mouth, buddy, I was only jesting.”
His dark brows furrowed.
“Honestly!” I lifted my palms in surrender.
“Very funny.” If he’d been a little bit more like me, he’d have stuck his tongue out with the words. But he didn’t. Instead he heaved a sigh and slipped his hand between my hair and my neck. “You just be a nice girl, do you hear? Don’t do anything reckless. And in God’s name, don’t even think about running off on your own once you’re in France.”
I raised one innocent brow. “Anything else?”
Scratching the stubble on his chin, he pursed his lips. “Beware, cars hit from the right side in mainland Europe.”
“You mean from the wrong side?” I offered.
Long wisps slipped through his fingers as he ruffled my hair. “Exactly.” His low chuckle reminded me of how much I was going to miss this man. He was more like family than my mother could ever be.
A moment later, Julian approached us again, this time with the dragon in tow. “We’re boarding in twenty minutes. Better get through passport control now.”
Bile rose in my throat the moment he announced our short departure.
Quinn didn’t miss the tremble of my lower lip. He dipped his head, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “You’ll be okay, kiddo.” Then he turned to Julian. “You’ll take good care of the princess, won’t you?”
“I promise.” Julian’s eyes fixed on mine as he spoke.
My mother said goodbye to Quinn and shook his hand. “Thanks for watching over my baby. I hope we’ll get a chance to meet again.”
Her baby? Which one? The one she would have drowned in the river with a happy laugh? I had to look elsewhere to restrain from making this woman eat her teeth.
She and her pet started for passport control with me following at a reluctant pace.
“Julian!” Quinn’s shout had us all turning around once more. He retrieved a set of silver handcuffs from the back of his belt and tossed them at Julian, who caught the glinting object with one hand. “You might want to make use of those. And better keep an eye on the exit.”
Julian’s chuckle didn’t bother me half as much as it should have. Neither did Quinn’s final banter. Before I knew it, I broke into a run and slammed hard against Quinn’s chest. His arms enveloped me with the strength of a best friend, and I wished there was a way to stay in this protective cage.
“Cheer up, kiddo. It’s only for six weeks,” he said into my ear. “If, after that time, you still want to return to England, I’ll come and pick you up myself.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. The first and the last. Then he cupped my chin. “Now go meet your family. They’re waiting for you.”
There was no way to delay the walk into the lion’s den any longer. Slipping away from Quinn’s hug, I dragged my feet over to the sliding glass doors where the dragon waited for me. Every so often I cast a glance over my shoulder to ensure Quinn was still there. He waved, then shoved his hands into his pockets, but didn’t move. We rounded the corner and he was out of sight.
After we passed passport control and security, my suddenly lethargic body slumped into one of the many red vinyl chairs lining the wall. Arms crossed and jaw set, I waited for the time to board the plane.
It took not a minute for Julian to sit down next to me. “You know, six weeks isn’t an eternity. Give yourself a push. You might even enjoy the stay.”
“Yeah, right. Like pulling a tooth.”
Resignation filled his sigh. He brought his hand down on my thigh for a second. The move caught me unaware, and I completely forgot to jerk my leg out from under his touch. Instead, I stared at his fingers for as long as they lay on my jeans.
Then he rose from the seat and crossed the hall to the huge windowpane where Charlene stood and paid attention to the traffic on the runway.
Even with his gentle caress gone from my leg, the spot where he’d touched me remained prickling with heat. An odd sensation raced over my skin. I rubbed my hand over my thigh; my heart pounded as warmth filled me.
Whether there was magic in his touch or I’d lost my mind, I couldn’t tell. Either way, his unexpected caress distracted me long enough to ease the pain over the departure from my hometown and my only friend.
Over the loud speaker, a stewardess announced the plane was ready for boarding. I rose from my chair and followed Julian and Charlene through the final ticket control. The noise of the plane engines grew louder with every step down the narrow gate. A slight chill wafted into my face as I stepped over the small gap and entered the plane.
Two captains and another hostess greeted us at the entrance and wished us a pleasant journey.
“Pleasant, my arse,” I mumbled and trudged down the narrow aisle behind Charlene until she found the row with our seat numbers inscribed overhead.
She turned to me with an expectant smile. “Would you like to sit by the window?”
Julian uttered a few words in French to her. Her expression fell, then she slid into the window seat. Did he just reveal my little problem with big heights to her? I wished he’d chosen English to sell me out.
Damn! Shock weakened my knees as I realized in France no one would speak my language at all. Julian planted himself next to the dragon which left the aisle seat for me. I collapsed into the navy blue seat, my mind racing.
The flight attendant had the passengers buckle their seatbelts. I slid the metal slots together, but the belt was long enough for me to fit in there three times. I opened the buckle and searched for a second, shorter belt around my seat, but there was none.
“Let me do it for you.” Julian’s fingers were on the seatbelt before I could refuse his help.
Hands lifted to my shoulders, I watched as he buckled me in then pulled at the loose end to tighten the belt around my waist. His alluring, sweet scent filled my head when he leaned toward me. I licked my lips.
His hand rested on my belly. “Too tight?”
Slowly, I shook my head. He stared into my eyes for an infinitesimal second longer, then he leaned back. I had to forcefully take in a breath. “Thanks.”
On the small screens attached to the overhead compartments, an animated hostess had started to give instructions for what to do in case of emergency. I strained to listen and memorize the appropriate conduct in the unlikely event of the aircraft performing a landing on water. The short movie of people gliding down on a giant slide and then initiating their life-vests in the water freaked me out.
“If it’s so unlikely, then why show this movie?” I clenched my teeth and prayed that Julian wouldn’t notice my trembles. Crap. No such luck.
“Relax. Nothing’s going to happen,” he whispered in my ear.
